What to watch out for when driving in the rain?

Moto&tech
What to watch out for when driving in the rain?
It takes approx. 3 minutes to read this article

Rain definitely does not make driving easier and can be a challenge even for experienced drivers. That’s why it’s important to keep your eyes on the road and remember some very important things.

The moment it starts to rain

The most dangerous part of a downpour is the first few minutes after it starts. When the road is just beginning to get wet, it becomes slippery from dust, dirt, oil and fuel residue, and the wheels’ grip on the road is reduced. If it has been raining for several hours, this problem is not as noticeable.

What should you do when the first drops of rain hit the road?

  • Keep both hands on the steering wheel,
  • adjust your speed,
  • avoid sudden turns,
  • brake slowly and sensitively.

Puddles

One of the biggest road hazards in the rain are puddles. Why? Because they form inside ruts and potholes, covering their surface at the same time. This means you can’t see how deep the obstacle is in front of you, so if you drive into it at speed you could damage your suspension or even blow a hole in your tire. So take your foot off the gas and avoid puddles if possible.

Aquaplaning

When a car loses grip on a water-covered road. It occurs when the tires can’t keep up with the flow of rainwater or just after driving through a puddle. This is exacerbated by improper wheel pressure and worn tread

Remember:

  • gentle steering movements,
  • pulse braking in the absence of ABS,
  • slowly lose speed.

Foggy windshields

Windows begin to fog up when there is a temperature difference between the interior of the car and its surroundings. The problem can occur right after you get into the car during humid weather, or when you bring some rain/snow inside

Water vapor on the windows is a major hazard during a downpour – it significantly reduces visibility and makes it impossible for the driver to focus on the road properly. If you encounter this situation, turn on the air conditioning or ventilate with the windshields up, and open the side windows. If the problem persists, check the ventilation system and clean the windows from the inside.

Visibility

Sometimes rainfall is so heavy that it makes visibility on the road difficult. Lights reflect on the wet road surface and dazzle road users, you can not see the lanes, the windshield wipers do not work, on the road flows a torrent of water … In this situation, it is necessary to stop in a safe place and wait until the rainfall calms down a little. Otherwise, it is a simple road to accident.

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Speed

There is no need to write too much about the speed – every responsible driver knows that it should be adjusted to the weather conditions and reduced accordingly when it starts raining. Of course, the focus should not only be on rain: wet leaves, dirt, spills and ice on the road are also dangerous.

Prevention is better than cure

As the autumn/winter season approaches, it’s worth giving your car a thorough inspection to ensure it can cope with the weather. Then you won’t have to stress when you’re surprised by rain on the road. Therefore:

  • check the condition of your windshield wipers – if they are worn, replace them with new ones,
  • check if all the lights in your car work and adjust their settings,
  • ventilate your car to avoid problems with evaporation.

Main photo: Angga Pratama/unsplash.com

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